Soccer: Phoenix smash four past Glory

Tim Brown of the Phoenix celebrates teammate Nick Ward's goal with keeper for the Glory Tando Velaphi in defense. Photo / Getty Images

The Wellington Phoenix banked three precious A-League soccer points with a handsome 4-0 win over Perth Glory at home today.

The result saw the Phoenix move up one spot into seventh with 32 points and inching closer to a top six playoff spot.

The Phoenix could make another move up the table if they beat league leaders Brisbane Roar on Wednesday in the flood-postponed match before another home game on Sunday against playoff rivals Newcastle Jets.

Brisbane Roar top the table on 53 points followed by Adelaide United and Central Coast Mariners with 46 each with Gold Coast United fourth on 42.

The final two spots are up for grabs in what looks like a four-way battle between Melbourne sides Victory (34 points) and Heart (33), Newcastle (31) and the Phoenix (32).

The Phoenix dominated their game against 10th-placed Perth today with teenager Marco Rojas once again playing a starring role as tormented both flanks of the Perth with his fast and tricky runs.

Perth were pinned in defence for long periods in the first half but somehow kept out the Phoenix raids.

Phoenix midfielder Tim Brown had the first look at goal inside one minute of the kickoff but nodded a clinical Rojas cross wide from three metres out.

The Phoenix's goal, when it came in the 10th minute had an element of the bizarre.

Fullback Troy Hearfield's looping shot beat goalkeeper Tando Velaphi and bounced up from the bar. Velaphi comically knocked the ball into his own goal as he tried to secure it while challenged by Brown.

The Phoenix hit the cross bar twice more in the half - once when goalkeeper Danny Vukovic's clearance sailed into the opposing penalty box with the help of the southerly and its bounce beat a stranded Velaphi only to find the woodwork.

Defender Andrew Durante and striker Dylan Macallister were left kicking themselves as both missed from point blank range as the ball pin-balled around after another Hearfield cross hit the bar and bounced down.

The second half was a totally different story.

With Rojas near unstoppable everytime he got the ball, the Perth defence were run ragged.

Macallister opened the scoring when his low freekick from 25 metres beat Velaphi after deflecting off defender Steven McGarry.

Another jinking Rojas run that tied two Perth defenders into knots ended with another sharp cross that Lia struck into the back of the net from just inside the penalty box in the 60th minute to give the Phoenix a secure 3-0 lead.

Substitute striker Paul Greenacre had the last say on the stroke of regulation time, heading home a cross from Lia on the right.

Wellington Phoenix 4 (Tando Velaphi own goal, Dylan Macallister, Vince Lia, Paul Greenacre) Perth Glory 0. Halftime 1-0.

- NZPA